Legislative Update
Important progress continues on several bills that will support our communities, address absenteeism in schools, and improve the North Star Promise as we approach the first and second deadlines. House budget targets have also been released, and committee leaders are beginning the negotiation process with their Democrat colleagues to develop a final budget bill for each committee. You can watch a short video overview here.
This Week’s Legislative Progress
HF 2201 – Schools across Minnesota are cutting budgets. HF 2201 is an idea to provide funding and flexibility to our local districts. This bill continues free breakfast for all students and lunch for students from a family of 4 making less than $156,000 per year. This would allow the legislature to reallocate the $85,000,000 dollars per year in savings back into our local schools. It is unfortunate this bill does not have bipartisan support. To hear more about how this legislation will help our schools, check out this video. If you would like to watch the committee hearing in its entirety, you can do so by clicking this link.
HF 1053 – This is a bipartisan bill I’ve been working on with Rep. Keeler to address issues surrounding absenteeism and truancy in our classrooms. You can see myself and testifier Ashley Hightower from Hennepin County DA’s office speak more about these issues here.
HF 2634 – The North Star Promise was passed in the 2023-2024 biennium and provides free college to individuals from families earning less than $80,000 dollars. HF 2634 seeks to improve the North Star Promise by focusing eligibility on students pursuing careers in high-demand industries like healthcare and manufacturing. This ensures that the scholarship aligns with Minnesota’s workforce needs, benefiting students, employers, and communities by creating a direct pipeline of skilled talent. You can see me discuss this bill in more detail here.
House Republican’s Budget Framework
House Republican recently released a budget framework, which reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility and reducing state spending. This agreement represents the largest total spending reduction in state history - $3.9 billion less than the 2024-25 budget, and $1.159 billion below the 2026-27 base. We are taking a major step toward solving the budget deficit that was exacerbated by the Democrats' $18 billion increase in spending in 2023-2024, which included a massive surplus spending spree and $10 billion in new taxes. This will reduce the $6 billion deficit down to $2.226 billion in 2028-2029 without raising taxes, ensuring a more efficient government. This framework is a victory for our state and our efforts to make government smaller and more efficient, all while continuing to improve critical services for Minnesotans.
Housing Bills Under Deliberation
I’ve heard from many of you regarding concerns over the housing bills. While I fully recognize the importance of affordable housing, I cannot support these bills in their current form. The language as written limits local control: a principle I have long championed in both my legislative efforts and the bills I’ve authored. I believe cities should have the authority to determine how best to utilize their properties, rather than having decisions made by bureaucrats in St. Paul. These bills are likely to change as they progress, and I will do my best to keep you informed as they evolve.
Some Productive Meetings From This Week!
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